Former President Obama had imposed additional sanctions on Russia in retaliation for Russian interference with the presidential election.

Initially, Flynn publicly denied discussing sanctions with Russian officials. According to reports, he misled Vice President Pence and other administration officials about the substance of his conversations.

In his resignation letter Flynn said he “inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador.”

Left unanswered was what President Trump knew about Flynn’s conversations with the Russian ambassador. Shortly after Flynn’s phone call, Trump praised the Russians for not retaliating in response to the sanctions imposed by Obama.

A dossier compiled by a former British intelligence officer alleges that Russia has compromising information on Trump. That dossier has been partially confirmed by U.S. intelligence — although the most salacious allegations remain unsubstantiated.